11/11/13:Colonel George McDowell (ret) World War II veteran speaks at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13:Colonel George McDowell (ret) World War II veteran speaks at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: A marine holds an American Flag as Colonel George McDowell (ret) World War II veteran speaks at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. less

11/11/13: A marine holds an American Flag as Colonel George McDowell (ret) World War II veteran speaks at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. at the ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: Iraq Veterans prosthetic limbs are seen at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: Iraq Veterans prosthetic limbs are seen at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: Nicole Cox, wife of Staff Sgt. Ross Cox wipes a tear as she views the movie Honor Flight: One Last MIssion at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. less

11/11/13: Nicole Cox, wife of Staff Sgt. Ross Cox wipes a tear as she views the movie Honor Flight: One Last MIssion at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: War Veterans leave the field after viewing the featured film ; Honor Flight: One Last Mission the at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: War Veterans leave the field after viewing the featured film ; Honor Flight: One Last Mission the at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: A Re/Max sky dive team member caring an American flag parachutes at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: A Re/Max sky dive team member caring an American flag parachutes at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: From left to right, Astros owner Jim Crane shakes hands with US Senator John Cornyn while attending the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: From left to right, Astros owner Jim Crane shakes hands with US Senator John Cornyn while attending the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: Corp. Stanley Sanders and his wife Majorie Sanders stand for the National Anthem at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: Corp. Stanley Sanders and his wife Majorie Sanders stand for the National Anthem at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: US Senator John Cornyn shakes hands Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Malin at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: US Senator John Cornyn shakes hands Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Malin at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: Navy Petty Officer Bill Matt watch the featured film ; Honor Flight: One Last Mission at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: Navy Petty Officer Bill Matt watch the featured film ; Honor Flight: One Last Mission at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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11/11/13: Iraq Veterans prosthetic limbs are seen at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

11/11/13: Iraq Veterans prosthetic limbs are seen at the Veterans Day -November 11, 2013, Salute to Veterans at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston's Honor Flights to take 25 WWII vets to D.C. in April

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After almost a year in the planning and fundraising stages, the Houston wing of the Honor Flights program is ready to roll this spring.

The first Houston excursion flies out of Hobby Airport on April 25 and comes back home the next evening.

The Honor Flight Network sends war veterans free of charge to Washington, D.C. to tour war memorials in the nation's capitol before it becomes too difficult for them to make the trip. Many vets die without seeing the memorials dedicated to servicemen, which is why the network was founded.

The Honor Flight program received some extra publicity during the government shutdown last fall when a group of Honor Flight vets from Mississippi bypassed barricades at the World War II memorial to visit the site.

Edd Harshbarger started a new Honor Flight hub here in Houston early last year after a previous Houston chapter, Lone Star Honor Flights, ended their program in 2011 due to the frailty of the vets and their dwindling numbers. Harshbarger, an Air Force veteran, is excited to start sending WWII vets to Washington after a year of wrangling funds and interest for the cause.

In all Harshbarger will be sending 25 World War II vets to Washington on April 25. The men, whose average age is in the mid-90s, will go on a whirlwind tour of the nation's capitol guided by chaperones who will assist them along the way.

"One of those Army vets served in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War," said Harshbarger.

Money is always an issue for Honor Flight programs, which rely solely on donations. Everything is paid for in full. It typically costs around $1,000 to send a vet to Washington. That figure includes the flights, meals, busing, and lodging. If the men want to pick up souvenirs, that comes out of their own pocket.

The 24-hour trip seems to turn the vets into baby-faced GIs all over again, say those who have chaperoned the trips. The old stories begin flowing and camaraderie is rekindled anew.

Harshbarger would like to send another group out in the middle of June. He hopes to send at least one group every two months, depending on funds.

It's not just money holding them back though. They also need to get the word out to WWII vets and their families that the program exists.

"We have 100 applications already, but it depends on funds and able vets to determine how many we can take on the next trip," he said.

Southwest Airlines is the official commercial airline of the Honor Flight Network.

As the WWII generation dwindles in number, Harshbarger said the Honor Flights will begin taking more Korean War and Vietnam War vets to Washington. The program will not end when the last of the “Greatest Generation” passes on, he said.

Concessions are made for vets with more pressing medical conditions.

“Any vet that is terminally ill gets in front of the line, all the way up to Iraq and Afghanistan vets,” said Harshbarger.

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